The announcement that the New Kids were going to have the honor of playing Fenway Park came in late January. I’m not going to mince words or dance around the truth: had I not been $800 into my cruise payments (or, even so, had I had the option of finding a roommate replacement without jeopardizing the reservation for both of my girls), I probably would have had to think long and hard about cancelling my spot on the cruise just to be at Fenway. Why? Simply because, as excited as I was about the cruise, I felt fairly sure that there will be (at least) one more to come in the future. Fenway, however…not so much. Of the seventeen concerts that have taken place at Fenway Park since the first in 2003, only one artist (Dave Matthews Band) has been honored to play it twice. NKOTBSB? Perhaps, but that’s quite a gamble. (more…)

They call us (among other things), Blockheads. (And while, to me, there is a difference between us lifelong residents and those who’ve just moved back to the Block…I digress.) For many of us, Twitter has been an amazing blessing. It’s like a non-stop afterparty – most of the New Kids are on at least once a day, and we’ve never had a chance like this to be in such close touch with them, especially on a daily basis and while they’re not touring. (more…)

It took me many, many years to realize the influence Donnie Wahlberg has had in my life. I always loved how seriously he took the idea of being a role model, but it wasn’t until this past year that I slowly started to add up just how significantly I’ve been impacted over the years. First of all, as I’ve said before, his voice has been in my ear since I was a child, saying “don’t do drugs!” and “stay in school!” It wasn’t long ago that I was telling a friend that the worst substance I’ve ever touched in my life was pot. When I began to explain why, I stopped short – I’d never realized that a big part of it was because I’d grown up with someone I loved so much telling me not to do it. Sure, everyone hears that from parents. But I guess there must’ve been something quite profound in Donnie’s voice for me…I’m proud to admit I listened, and avoided substances altogether. I’m not sure I was ever destined for much in the way of drug abuse, but to be someone who’s personally really been steered away from them by someone who’s always been conscious of his status as role model? Awesome, for both of us, as far as I’m concerned. I really am proud of that. (more…)